What exactly is lobbying?
The term once referred to anyone lurking in the lobbies or halls of Congress or any legislative chamber, hoping to speak with lawmakers. Federal lobbying is now legally defined as communicating on behalf of a paying client with officials in the legislative or executive branches, in an attempt to influence legislation. As a practical matter, lobbyists spend a lot of their time nurturing relationships in government—helping lawmakers raise campaign money, for instance, and trying to pry loose useful information. Their ultimate goal is to play a role in crafting, passing, or defeating laws affecting their clients.
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